Monthly Archives: March 2022

MEMBERS NEWSLETTER ​ March/April 2022

Welcome to this edition of your members newsletter. No doubt like myself you are looking forward to lighter evenings and warmer days.

One thing about being a member of an art group is that from time to time we get to hear about events that we might like to participate in or workshops offered by tutors.

The first item on the list of news is a number of dates to note in your diaries if you wish that are all about raising funds for charity. So, in date order –

Call for artists – Glimpses of Infinity

A session of live readings and fundraiser art exhibition 9th April to 14th May

Vela Art Gallery, 28 High Street, Saxmundham, IP17 1AB, are hosting a fundraiser exhibition event in collaboration with, and in aid of, Inside Out Community, a Suffolk charity that offers opportunities for participation in a variety of creative art forms to people experiencing the sometimes overwhelming psychological challenges in life.

Artists are invited to participate in this exhibition, the theme being ‘Realigning’, reflecting the positive role that creative arts can play supporting emotional well-being.

Accepted media – 3D, photography, original prints, paintings and drawings of all media.

No hanging fee Deadline for submissions 27th March

If you like further info please contact organisers direct – info@velapartners.co.uk

Paint for the Ukraine

An acrylic painting workshop led by Jim Lait on Saturday 30th April, 11.00am until 3.30pm in the Upper room, Conservative Club, Felixstowe (Hall kindly donated by the Conservative Club)

Please bring your own supplies and ideas and enjoy a day painting with fellow artists to raise money for the Ukraine.

Jim will be available during the day to offer advice and tuition to anyone that would like some help.

Drinks and biscuits will be available, just need to bring a packed lunch.

Numbers limited so booking essential. Further details and to book, preferably by email:

thelaits@hotmail.com or phone 07501 900955 between 6.00 and 8.00pm

A minimum donation of £15 is asked for, which will go towards the Disasters Emergency Committee, Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Felixstowe Art Group fund raiser for Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Saturday, 14th May at Felixstowe Library – 10.15am until 4.15pm

Members are invited to bring along up to three unframed works to offer for sale on a 50/50 basis. Members are of course welcome to donate the entire amount of any sales they make to the appeal but it was felt this should be an option.

All we ask is work is presented as is required for Gallery and Annual Exhibition and clearly marked on the front. Work brought in to library from 9.00am until 10.00am to ensure all set up ready to greet potential customers. Unsold work collected after 4.15pm, and by 5.00pm as library closes promptly at 5.00pm.

We do hope you will be able to support this fund raiser.

Group’s programme of meetings at Broadway House, Orwell Road, Felixstowe IP11 7DD, 7.30pm

Tuesday 22nd March : Life drawing with male model (Members only)

Tuesday 12th April: Jane Cochrane demonstrating ‘Wonders of negative painting’

Tuesday 26th April : Group’s Annual General Meeting

(Please note nominations for committee and AOB must be received 21 days before meeting).

At this year’s AGM we will be welcoming in the Group’s 70th birthday so took the opportunity that recently arose to offer something extra – a guest speaker to come along and make a short presentation about an artist, Myrtle Ferguson, who not only painted various subjects but also drew amusing cartoons for Kesgrave News. A very interesting lady but won’t say too much here!

The Annual Exhibition catalogue cover competition also takes place at this meeting. Work will need to be presented in A4 or A3 portrait format and does not require a mount.

No wording required as this will be done by Flyer Press but please do leave enough plain background in your design for said wording! Members vote for their favourite design with winner awarded a trophy to keep for one year, a prize and their design on front cover of catalogue. Runner up is not forgotten as they too will be awarded a prize. Good luck!

Gallery changeover Monday 11th April 9.30 until 11.30am

Membership renewal

Your forms are all ready to be delivered during the next two weeks so you should receive them no later than by the end of March. We do hope you will be signing up for another year. An interesting programme of meetings has been planned together with coach trip, Annual Exhibition, Art on the Prom, Workshops etc.

Our Group President, Issy Coe, has workshops coming up on various subjects – acrylics, watercolour, oils, pastels and mixed media – at her studio in Weybread, Diss, so if you would like to find out more she would be delighted to hear from you. issyart210@btinternet.com

Lastly Malcolm Laurie drawing challenge. A long time coming as had to be postponed last year.

Although disappointing with the number of members coming along to this social evening, all who did took the opportunity to judge their favourite in the various categories, catch up on news with each other plus enjoy wine and nibbles. Results as follows –

Playtime – (The most popular category) Fran Hicks with children coming down a slide and runner up Liz Tennant with elephant playing with a ball.

Pals – (second in popularity stakes) Fran Hicks with her group of soldiers and Yvonne Smart with drawing of her daughter holding puppy

Pots – Although there were only two entries for this category it was thought on this occasion a prize would be awarded for the favourite so we were delighted to present a trophy and prize to  Daphne Pilbrough for her a selection of pots.

That’s it folks, run out of room!

Yvonne (Chairman)

Keep creating and enjoying your journey in art

FELIXSTOWE ART GROUP PRESS RELEASE TO FLYER MAGAZINES MARCH 2022

Suffolk painter Carol Foreman was born in Framlingham but has lived in Felixstowe for most of her life. Carol’s lively paintings are always popular at the Group’s Bent Hill Gallery and Annual Exhibitions held each year in August.

Having begun with watercolours over a decade ago, Carol’s recognisable works are now in oils and applied with the palette knife to give a unique texture and impression, perfectly evoking the Suffolk landscape that she loves. She has a tried-and-true method of organising each painting as she explains that she works from the top to the bottom of the canvas to ensure that her work remains fresh and unspoiled.

The Group’s evening program continues in March with Member only sessions: the annual drawing competition will take place at Broadway House on 8 March and there will be a life drawing evening on 22 March. It is also time to prepare for the annual catalogue cover and poster competition which will be held as part of the AGM on 26 April. Members should check the website for updates on events should Covid regulations change.

Felixstowe residents and visitors are warmly invited to look around the Bent Hill Gallery, 127 Undercliff Road West, IP11 7DG where exhibitions are regularly changed. Information about joining the Group can be found at the Gallery and on the website. www.felixstoweartgroup.org.

Springtime oil painting by Carol Foreman

FELIXSTOWE ART GROUP PRESS RELEASE TO SPOTLIGHT MARCH 2022

Felixstowe Art Group’s twice monthly talks and art demonstrations begin again for Members on 8 March with the annual drawing competition, sponsored by and held in honour of the late Malcolm Laurie.

Fran Hicks has been a worthy winner of past competitions. A Registered Nurse and former Modern Matron of the Felixstowe Community Hospital, Fran began drawing as part of her hobby of pyrography. Changing to graphite and coloured pencil work when she decided that she ‘needed a little more colour’ in her life she began her meticulous studies of animals. She has now included pastels in her armoury and has also depicted landmarks such as the former gaol site opposite Cage Lane in Walton. We look forward to her contributions to this year’s competition topics which are Pots, Playtime and Pals.

The Group will also meet on 22 March for a life drawing class while Thursday painting sessions continue at the Conservative Club and the Bent Hill Gallery is open to local patrons and visitors throughout the year.

Study in pastel pencil by Fran Hicks

FELIXSTOWE ART GROUP PRESS RELEASE TO SPOTLIGHT FEBRUARY 2022

Felixstowe Art Group’s webmaster, Marian Lishman, has always enjoyed painting and began working as an artist in 2005 when living in Dubai where she sold paintings to interior designers and hotels before returning to the UK where she lives in Ipswich.

A member of the Group for over ten years, Marian loves the organic nature of liquid acrylic paints and is clearly influenced by the sea. Her ‘wave paintings’ are often exhibited and available for sale at the Bent Hill Gallery on Felixstowe’s seafront.

Despite recent Covid restrictions, the Gallery has remained open through January with appropriate safety measures in place although some of the Group’s planned evening events have had to be cancelled.

Tuesday evening sessions are planned to resume with an illustrated talk on Minsmere given by Val and Alan Bourne on 8 February. On 22 February, Carole Massey will be demonstrating how pastels can be used over acrylic work.

Members of the public are invited to come along to these meetings that begin at 7.30pm at Broadway House, Orwell Road, Felixstowe, IP11 7DD. There is a small charge of £2 for non-Members.

It is advisable to check details on the website which will be updated should any changes to plans be required as current information is always posted on www.felixstoweartgroup.org.

Fractured Wave by Marian Lishman – acrylic and resin on canvas

FELIXSTOWE ART GROUP PRESS RELEASE TO FLYER MAGAZINES FEBRUARY 2022

Ipswich resident Caroline Burgess joined the Felixstowe Art Group in 2017. Her creative background in hairdressing and floristry is evident in her mixed media and collage work which can be seen at the Bent Hill Gallery on the Felixstowe sea front.

Caroline says that she is excited by all sorts of subjects, “birds, animals or portrait. I find a whole story can be told by an expression or pose,” she says and has demonstrated capably in her popular paintings.

The Felixstowe Art Group strides bravely into our 70th anniversary year with regular Thursday painting sessions although burgeoning Omicron cases throughout the country meant cancellation of our New Year party.

It is hoped that February meetings can go ahead as all necessary safety provisions will be in place. On 8 February Val and Alan Bourne will give an illustrated talk on Minsmere and on 22 February Carole Massey will demonstrate “Pastels over Acrylic”. Both those 7.30pm sessions are free to Members and open to the public at a nominal charge of £2.

During these uncertain times, please check on the website for any updates before attending those meetings at Broadway House, Orwell Road, Felixstowe. IP11 7DD.

The Pheasant paper collage by Caroline Burgess